Matchbook



Sept. 4, 1956 M. JORDAN MATCHBOOK Filed Aug. 30, 1954 United States Patent MATCHBOOK Marian Jordan, Malibu, Calif. Application August 30, 1954, Serial No. 453,064

6 Claims. (Cl. 20648) My invention relates to match books, and included in the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a match book which is arranged for quick and dependable attachment to a package of cigarettes and which remains attached as the cigarettes and matches are depleted.

Second, to provide a match book which although arranged for attachment to a cigarette package is not appreciably more expensive to manufacture than a conventional match book and does not require additional material in its construction.

With the above and other objects in View, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my match book shown attached to a package of cigarettes;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the back side of my match book and indicating particularly the means whereby the match book may be attached to a package of cigarettes; and

Fig. 3 is a developed view of the match book blank.

My match book includes a match book blank 1 formed of cardboard or the like and adapted to be folded so as to form a back 2, a bottom margin tab 3, a top 4, and a cover 5. The bottom margin tab is adapted to be folded over one or more match strips 6 and secured by a staple 7. The construction so far described may be considered as conventional.

The back 2 of the match book blank is provided with a U-shaped slit 8 which defines a tongue or flap 9 directed downwardly. The legs of the U-shaped slit terminate adjacent the top portion 4 of the blank and are joined to inturned cuts 10 so as to form shoulders 11. The cross portion of the U-shaped slit 8 may be interrupted by a small rupturable web 12 so that the tongue or flap 9 is retained in place until used.

My match book blank is primarily designed for attachment to a conventional cigarette package 13 after the package has been opened for use. The conventional cigarette package comprises an outer wrapper 14 (the cellophane wrapping being ignored) and an inner wrapper 15. The inner wrapper is formed of paper-backed foil and is folded over both ends of the package, whereas the outer wrapper is in the form of a band, exposing the ends of the package.

The package is sealed by a revenue stamp 16 which bridges across one folded end of the inner wrapper and is joined at its extremities to the upper margins of the outer wrapper 14.

In opening a package of cigarettes in the conventional manner, one tears the folded end of the inner wrapper lying between one side of the revenue stamp and the adjacent margin of the cigarette package. In most cases the revenue stamp is mutilated in the course of opening the package of cigarettes. In so opening the cigarette package, an aperture 17 is formed. Also there is formed between the inner and outer wrappers a space capable of receiving the tongue or flap 9 which may be thrust down- 2,761,554 Patented Sept. 4, 1956 ice wardly therein. Still further, that portion of the revenue stamp designated 18, which remains attached to the outer wrapper, bridges over the space formed between the wrappers. The portion 18 of the revenue stamp is employed to aid in retaining my match book on the side of the cigarette package.

Thus in the operation and use of my match book, the tongue or flap 9 is inserted between the inner and outer wrappers of the cigarette package so that the match book lies against one side of the cigarette package. The match book is then slipped laterally so that one of the inturned cuts 10 enters under the portion 18 of the revenue stamp and thus interlocks therewith so as to prevent accidental dislodgment of the match book. Once the match book is attached, the cover 5 may be opened and closed as needed to remove matches therefrom.

It should be observed that the cellophane covering usually enclosing the cigarette package need not be removed, for in the course of opening the cigarette package the top end of the cellophane jacket is removed so that the slit between the inner wrapper 15 and outer wrapper 14 is accessible for the tongue or flap 9.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A match book, comprising: a match book blank adapted to be folded over and enclose a strip of matches and including a back portion and a top portion covering the ends of the matches and foldably connected to said back portion; and a tongue formed in said back portion adapted to be inserted between the wrappings of a cigarette package said tongue being joined to said back portion at the folded connection between said back and top portions.

2. A match book, comprising: a match book blank adapted to be folded over and enclose a strip of matches and including a back portion and a top portion covering the ends of the matches and foldably connected to said back portion; a tongue formed in said back portion adapted to be inserted between the wrappings of a cigarette package said tongue being joined to said back portion at the folded connection between said back and top portions; and means forinterlocking said tongue with said cigarette package.

3. As an article of manufacture, a match book adapted for use in conjunction with a cigarette package having an outer wrapper, an inner wrapper, and a revenue stamp attached at its extremities to said outer wrapper and bridging an end of the inner wrapper, wherein the inner end of the wrapper is torn open to form an aperture for access to the contents of the cigarette package, said match'book comprising: a match book blank adapted to be folded over and enclose a strip of matches and including a back portion, a top portion and fold line joining said back and top portions; and a tongue formed in said back portion and having a foldable connection with said book blank coinciding with said fold line, said tongue adapted to be inserted between the inner and outer wrappings of said cigarette package.

4. As an article of manufacture, a match book adapted for use in conjunction with a cigarette package having an outer wrapper, an inner wrapper, and a revenue stamp attached at its extremities to said outer wrapper and bridging an end of the inner wrapper, wherein the inner end of the wrapper is torn open to form an aperture for access to the contents of the cigarette package, said match book comprising: a match book blank adapted to be folded over and enclose a strip of matches and including a back portion, a top portion and fold line joining said back and top portions; a tongue formed in said back portion and having a foldable connection with said book blank coinciding with said fold line, said tongue adapted to be inserted between the inner and outer wrappings of said cigarette package; and means enabling said tongue to be slipped edgewise under said revenue stamp to interlock said tongue with said cigarette package.

5. As an article of manufacture, a match book adapted for use in conjunction with a cigarette package having an outer wrapper, an inner wrapper, and a revenue stamp attached at its extremities to said outer wrapper and bridging an end of the inner wrapper, wherein the end of the inner wrapper is torn open to form an aperture for access to the contents of the cigarette package, said match book comprising: a match book blank adapted to be folded over and enclose a strip of matches and including a back portion, a top portion and fold line joining said back and top portions; and a substantially U-shaped cut in said back portion having inturned extremities coinciding with said fold line to form a tongue having shoulders at said inturned extremities, said tongue adapted to be inserted between said inner and outer wrappings, and one of said shoulders adapted to be slipped under said revenue stamp to secure said match hook to said cigarette package.

6. As an article of manufacture, a match book adapted for use in conjunction with a cigarette package having an outer wrapper, an inner wrapper, and a revenue stamp attached at its extremities to said outer wrapper and bridging an end of the inner Wrapper, wherein the end of the inner wrapper is torn open to form an aperture for access to the contents of the cigarette package, said match book comprising: strips of matches; a cover structure enclosing said match strips and including a top portion and a back portion; a substantially U-shaped cut in said back portion commencing at said upper edge and including inturned slits along the juncture of said back and top portions, said out and slits defining a tongue having shoulders at its upper extremity, said tongue adapted to be inserted between said inner and outer wrappings and either one of said shoulders adapted to be slipped under said revenue stamp to secure said cover structure to said cigarette package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

